What People Earn 2022: What Everyday Americans Are Making
Can you make a living renting out your home or car? Is health care still a hot career? We answer those questions and more in Parade’s most popular edition, What People Earn, in which we reveal the state of work today. In our 40th annual salary survey, Parade peeks into the paychecks of working Americans (travel nurses, immigration lawyers, publicists, teachers, Airbnb hosts, home builders and more) and check out the high-earning celebs who cashed in this year.
Work in 2022 and beyond is likely to include more flexible hours, a combination of in-office and remote work, workplaces that look and feel more like home, and more attention to a company culture that matches personal values
Dive in to find out what they love most about their career—and just how much they’re making.
Related: What People Earn 2022: Parade Looks at the Trends Occurring in Our Workforce
What People Earn Salaries 2022
Jessica Steinrock, 29
Chicago
Intimacy coordinator for actors
$86,000
“I love that my job supports incredible storytelling in a safe way and empowers actors to do their best work. I also help train the next generation of intimacy coordinators for theater, TV and film to create consensual workspaces across the arts.”
Gregg Barbanell, 68
Pasadena, California
Foley artist
$119,000
“As a Foley Artist, I make sound effects for movies and television shows, performed live on a Foley recording stage while watching the scene projected on a screen. It's an unusual and highly specialized job that takes years to master. What I love about it is that every project presents new and challenging sounds to create, making every day different. There is nothing boring about this highly creative job.”
Robert Popp, 70
Plainfield, Vermont
State botanist
$77,900
“I’m responsible for determining the status, threats and management needs of Vermont’s rare plants. I get to see many of New England’s rarest plants, hike to many of Vermont’s more scenic places and interact with a dedicated, enthusiastic group of co-workers and partners. After 32 years at this position, I am still excited to go to work each day.”
Zachary Hall, 27
Greenwood, Arkansas
Professional storm chaser
$60,000
“I travel thousands of miles every year. We document wild weather, including blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and more. I have a strong social media presence, which has offered me sponsorship opportunities and the ability to chase severe weather professionally. I love being in the field and experiencing wild weather up close. Through social media and live video, we can often grab the attention of the general public and help better prepare them.”
Thoren Bradley, 31
Avery, California
TikTok wood chopper
$150,000
“Every day, I have blue-collar work in front of me in regard to tree felling, collecting and splitting. But I also work as a health educator and fitness influencer, putting my master’s degree in physiology to good use. And I like the dichotomy between those two worlds, mainly because it represents who I am as a human being really well. Having the challenges of both worlds seems to really provide balance in my psyche.”
Selina Leitner, 26
Menasha, Wisconsin
Carsharing host
$8,907
“Turo [a carsharing app that allows private car owners to rent out their vehicles] has been a fantastic means of earning passive income on a vehicle that I already own, while also fitting into my busy schedule.”
Kristie Wolfe, 39
Boise, Idaho
Airbnb host
$327,297
“Before making Airbnb my full-time career, I worked in a potato factory. I had three Airbnb rentals under my belt, but I heard the Idaho Potato Commission was getting rid of a six-ton model potato that they’d used to tour the U.S. They ended up gifting me the potato, and I spent $32,000 in construction to make it into a house and add a bathroom. It was a huge success and I’ve rolled the resulting income into additional unique builds.”
MiKayla Abbas, 27
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Pet sitter and walker
$19,143
“I offer boarding and daycare options for people’s pets in my home. I also offer drop-in visits and walks in the owner’s home. I love that I get to work from home and have a flexible schedule while working with adorable, loving animals every day. There are many positives for the animals as well. Dogs get to stay in a home environment versus a kennel boarding facility. In my home, dogs are rarely kenneled and always allowed to play in my yard and sleep on my bed. Most dogs are used to this at home, which makes them much more comfortable when they come to stay with me. They also get ample one-on-one attention time, which is not always possible in a kennel setting. Also, owners who would rather keep their pets at their own home can feel comfortable and happy knowing that I will stop by to feed and play with their fur baby while they are away. When I see a dog at my front door excited and happy to be there, I know that I am making a difference in not only the dog’s life, but also the owner’s.”
Theresa Cox, 58
Gilbert, Arizona
E-commerce Seller
$95,000
“I sell new and used items internationally, which helps pre-owned items find new owners, encourages sustainability and reduces the carbon footprint across the globe.”
Cassie Angu, 27
Trenton, New Jersey
Community doula and lactation consultant
$35,000
“I support people through pregnancy and postpartum and love doing this work because I empower, educate and advocate for families to get their ideal birth experiences. Most of the families I support are Medicaid recipients who would otherwise be unable to afford a doula or one-on-one out-of-hospital lactation support, and it is such an honor to support my community in this way.”
Claire Kelty, 35
Huntington, New York
Physical therapist assistant
$70,000
“I love knowing that I’m making a difference helping others to regain their strength and independence after having suffered a stroke, a spinal cord injury or after having undergone a procedure or surgery, whether it be an elective one, such as a total knee or hip replacement, or an unexpected one after a car accident or fall. It’s beyond rewarding when you take an individual who is unable to function the way they used to and work with them toward regaining their independence.”
Ify Yvonne Madu, 34
Columbus, Ohio
Pharmacist and social media influencer
$337,000
“As a retail pharmacist. I prepare and dispense medications to patients, as well as counsel them on how to take their medication. As a social media influencer, I share the real and authentic behind the scenes of my life as a mom and wife while I juggle running a clothing brand and coaching other women to launch their own businesses.”
Joseph Valenti, M.D., 58
Dallas
Gynecologist
$340,000
“As a practicing OB/GYN and Physicians Foundation board member, I’m dedicated to improving health by addressing the impacts social and environmental conditions have on every one of us. To truly help individuals live healthier lives, these social drivers of health must a be key part of new research, policy and innovation as well as physician-patient conversations.”
Megan & Ty DeWitt, 29 & 33
Charleston, South Carolina
Travel nurses
$89,000 each
“As travel nurses, we fill staffing needs in hospitals across the United States by working short-term contracts. We love the flexibility and freedom that this job provides and enjoy having the ability to travel while we work and time off between contracts.”
Cheryl Walker, 62
Huntington, New York
Occupational Therapist
$95,000
“I help people be as independent as possible with their self-care activities and hope to see them thrive in regaining and maintaining their independence.”
Donna Jonas, 65
Brooklyn, New York
Virtual personal assistant
$22,000
“I help professional men and women simplify their lives by completing tasks that never make it off their to-do list. For example, I make sure important milestones, meetings and appointments are added to their calendars. I research the best flights, hotel prices and activities. I purchase groceries online and find qualified contractors and suppliers for household management. I organize parties, schedule doctor appointments, research for the right holiday gift, purchase gift certificates and make restaurant reservations. As a retiree, I love the work I do as a virtual assistant. I have the flexibility to work when and where I want, and the money I earn helps supplement my retirement income. It is also gratifying to see how I help my clients optimize their personal and professional lives.”
Robert Nissenbaum, 53
Seattle
Sea kayak instructor
$28,000
“I started kayaking for the ability to explore Puget Sound from the water, to get a different perspective on my small corner of the world and to access places I couldn't otherwise reach. Teaching the skills necessary to accomplish this allows me to provide others with the same opportunities and to do so safely. I love seeing their smiles when they get it—those 'aha' moments when what they’ve been working on all comes together. Good instruction instills confidence. Confidence means comfort on the water. Comfort leads to competence.”
R.D. Chin, 68
New York
Feng shui architect
$25,000
“Each space or location is a reflection of the nature and personality of the client or family, so it is satisfying to know that I have helped each person feel comfortable, safe and harmonious with their environment.”
Courtney Chartier, 43
New York
Rare book archivist
$160,000
“I'm an archivist at Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library. I love information and I love stories, and every day I get to handle the documentary evidence that makes up our stories, and work with the people who take inspiration from them. My core calling is the records and looking for ways that we can use them for the betterment of all humanity.”
Desi Ekstein, 59
Lake Elsinore, California
Drone educator
$41,000
“I’m an educator at TCI MiraCosta’s college for drone safety and flight.”
Charles Fuentes, 30
San Antonio, Texas
Premise technician
$55,900
“I am a union-represented premise technician who works on copper and fiber broadband internet networks, installing and repairing services for a major telecommunications company. I service the network from our centrally located neighborhood equipment onward to the customer’s home or business. My work has me climbing utility poles and digging into hand holes to fix and install service lines and bring the service into the premises through attics, crawlspaces and sometimes into some interesting buildings. My work is satisfying and the benefits and pay that I receive are decent because of the contract my union fought for. Ultimately, I love knowing that my work makes a difference in the lives of my customers; it brings me pride knowing that I connected them to their friends, family and the rest of the world.”
Monrae Tuggle, 28
Atlanta
Marketing coach
$160,000
“I educate entrepreneurs on how to increase the revenue in their business through strategic marketing tactics.”
Sean Winters, 49
Custom home builder
$160,000
“My job involves giving people their dream. A home is one of the largest investments people make, and to provide them with the finished product of a home they have dreamed and designed is one of the most precious and fulfilling things I can imagine besides watching my children fulfill their dreams.”
Laurette Holst, 56
Bayshore, New York
Direct support professional
$52,000
“I am both a direct support professional for AHRC, an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a coach at night. I love my jobs because I am helping people achieve their goals both mentally, developmentally and physically.”
Linda Kuntz, 69
Tenino, Washington
Virtual assistant
$11,404
“I have been doing online freelancing since 2022, and making money from home is a blast. I love working from home and helping others grow their online businesses too. I am learning how to make money using my voice, and I'm doing the work I love.”
Andrew Lokenauth, 35
Tampa, Florida
Finance director
$285,000
“I manage general financial administration, reporting, revenue modeling, taxation, compliance, potential acquisitions and process improvements and enjoy this role because I get to drive the growth and success of the business.”
Serena Zachariah, 26
Succasunna, New Jersey
Immigration lawyer
$98,500
“I specifically practice immigration law for international artists looking to practice their craft in the U.S. I get to work with some of the most talented people in the world who are contributing their diverse voices to the arts.”
Molly Anderson, 57
Sacramento, California
Education programs consultant
$104,000
“Working for the California Department of Education, I oversee business and marketing education programs in the state. I came to the CDE after 26 years as a high school business teacher. At the state, I serve as the adviser for both FBLA and DECA, career technical student organizations that are linked to curricular programs and provide students with opportunities to develop leadership, career awareness, civic responsibility and competitive events at the regional, state and national level. The best part about my job, aside from witnessing young people grow and develop, is working with teachers and advisers and helping them with resources, funding sources and opportunities, providing professional development and overall moral support.”
Dave Gentile, 34
Brooklyn, New York
Publicist
$75,000
“I help obtain meaningful media coverage for our various clients and like the direct, concise organizational structure and communication.”
Jessie Leigh, 33
North Charleston, South Carolina
Bar manager
$49,000
“I run a cocktail bar in downtown Charleston and have been a career bartender for 12 years. My current manager position has given me more knowledge about different spirits and craft cocktails.”
Anaa Andriyash, 23
New Haven, Connecticut
Molecular biology Ph.D. student
$40,000
“My primary role as a Ph.D. student is to do research and run experiments to answer new and interesting questions about plant developmental biology. Although I spend most of my time in the lab working on my own research, being a Ph.D. student means I also teach classes, read papers and analyze and interpret data. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to work on something that no one has done before or no one has answered yet, so you're getting to discover something for the first time, and I think that's really exciting.”
Richard Bonet, 57
Bayside, New York
High pressure plant tender
$37 hour
Martha Piscuskas, 62
Liberty, Maine
Program Director, Maine Arts Commission
$69,377
Related: What People Earn 2022: Here's What You're Favorite Celebrities Are Making
